Courses

WRITING 3: ESSAYS

Taught by Laura Morefield
ages 14+
PRE-REQUISITES*: Writing 2 and/or Permission of the Instructor

NOTE: 1.5 hr. class
Full Year - 32 week Course

Course Overview:

Is your student ready to master the art of essay writing? Whether they’re new to academic essays or have some prior experience, Writing 3: Essays will help students hone their writing skills with a strong focus on structure, clarity, and thoughtful analysis. Guided through each stage of the writing process – from understanding the essential components of various types of essays to drafting, revising, and polishing their final work – students will be empowered to develop their unique voice and apply critical thinking skills. 

Schedule and Cost:

TWO SECTIONS AVAILABLE:

Section I:  Tuesday  – 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. ET

OR

Section II:  Sunday  – 8:30 – 10:00 p.m. ET

 

Course Dates (click to download pdf)

For Tuition Fees, Code of Conduct, and all the details, see THE FINE PRINT

What your Teen will Learn:

By the end of this course, students will have:

  • Gained a thorough understanding of the essential elements of an academic essay, including essay terms, structure, types, and organization.
  • Learned how to craft better thesis statements, paragraph topic sentences and support sentences, and how to write compelling conclusions.
  • Gained experience writing a variety of essay types, including informative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, and literary response/analysis essays.
  • Learned how to evaluate and critique essays, improving their writing through thoughtful revision and editing.
  • Developed skills to overcome writer’s block, brainstorm ideas, and approach essays with confidence.
  • Be able to compose a polished, five-paragraph essay that follows the conventions of academic writing.
  • Understand how to tailor their writing to different audiences and maintain an appropriate tone.

Why this Course is Important:

Essay writing is a critical life skill that extends far beyond the classroom. Whether students are preparing for standardized tests, applying to colleges, or simply looking to improve their communication skills, mastering academic writing will serve them well in nearly every aspect of their academic and professional careers. This course will equip students not only with the technical skills they need to craft strong essays but also with the confidence to express their ideas clearly and persuasively. By developing a solid foundation in academic writing, students will be able to approach writing tasks with ease, paving the way for greater academic success and future opportunities.

Class Structure and Homework:

This course is designed to be engaging and interactive, with weekly live classes that include:

  • Discussions: Focused on essay techniques, writing strategies, essay structure, and editing with instructor feedback; they will learn how to apply these concepts to their own work.
  • Assignments: Students will write and revise essays throughout the course, receiving individualized feedback from the instructor to strengthen their skills.
  • Parental Involvement: Parents are invited to join the Google Classroom to stay informed on assignments and support their student’s progress through their writing journey.

Upon registration, students and parents will be provided with a Google Classroom link to join. Class materials and assignments will be posted directly to Classroom, and students may communicate with each other through this platform. Students may communicate with the instructor through Classroom and student inquiries are usually addressed as quickly as possible between 9AM and 9PM EST. Student inquiries made on the day of class may be addressed in class instead of through Classroom.

*This is the next course recommended after Writing 2: Academic Paragraphs for those ready to progress to essay writing. It is expected that some students may require more than one year of Academic Paragraphs before proceeding to essay writing, depending on age, maturity, ability, etc. Those who are new to Elex Learning or who have not completed Writing 2: Academic Paragraphs will be required to submit a writing sample demonstrating paragraph mastery for admission to this course.

Note to Parents: Upon request and where warranted by the student’s level of performance and academic achievement, the instructor may agree to provide a letter of recommendation to potential employers, colleges, etc. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should be submitted with as much advance notice as possible.